Saint Mary's beacon., 1887-09-29

privilege under the submission 20 vote as
they thought proper. but they have not yo-
ted as we wanted Apem TO vote. This
sounds like q certain French election, ''you
may vote as you please, but you Hsatst please
TO vote Tor Napoleon" When the thirteenth
amendment was submitted 10 the legisla-
tures Of the States, including the ten above
alluded 10, the said ten States voted for its
ratification. This was all right, as it was
agreeable 90 the wishes Of q republican
! Congress. But when the l4th amendment
/ is submitted TO the same legislatures, and
/ they vote against its ratification, and adj
ding 10 their votes the votes OF Delaware,
I Maryland, Kentucky and California on the
+ question, effect its rejection, then its all
wrong, because not agreeable to u republi-
can Congress, and they determined 10 have
things brought down 10 their views. In
doing this, we must not lose sight of the
great outrage committed against the right
of our State and the other three States
named above in nuflifying their votes by
rejecting the votes Of the other States con-
stitutionallygivcn. Now upon what grounds
is il claimed that the l4th amendment is
part of the constitution of the United States
and must he obeyed as such: | actually
shuddcr when | commence 20 read the act
Of Congress passed End March, 1861, tafter
the li;h amendment had been rejected as
above stated.) but my blood boil5 before
have finished il. Every honest patriot who
reads il will be unable TO keep down the
dcnunciatory epithets that spring from his
heart against the conduct Of such unscru-
pulous protligatcs a constituted the ma
jority Of the Both Congress in passing that
act The five first sections establishes COM
plcte military rule over all ten ofthc South
/ crn States. The military is in time peace
completely substituted for the civil power
Of these States with the most tyrannical ad-
ditional powers. Military commissions take
the place Of the jury. The judgment ofthc
general in command is 10 execute the SEN
tcncc, let it involve what il may, except
life. The only saving clause is in the pro-
yiSo, that no sentence of death under the
provisions Of the act shall not be carried
int" effect without the approval of the
President" Do read from the records of
dcspotic Russia or from those ofour own
free govern mcnt: II is n source OF shame
that IN" records of the latter contains this
act. The so-called law is now exhausted,
having accomplished it< purpose, and we
have this only security against il in the tu-
turc, that none but the most unscrupulous
knavrs and tyrants can ever make an cX-
ample ot il. The country is being purified.
and ~ old rs | am hope 10 see the day
when the original of this act will he brought
into the House of Representatives of the
nitcd States, whose members shall order
black lines {" be drawn across and around
it, and otherwise branded 50 as to give rs
far - they can 4 suitable rcbukc 10 those
pcrjurcd tyrantS who passed such an afro
ciouS act. In the 9Th section of said act il
is required that each of these States shall
form constitution, and instead of the
States designating who shall vote for its
adoption. this Congressional act declares
who shall be the voter and who shall not
have that privilege, thus ovcrthrowing the
right uf the States 10 fix the right of suf
trage. not bv an amendment 10 the consti-
tuition, hut by a simple act of Congress.
, That proceeding needs no comment. The
| act then proceeds. 'when such constitution
shall have been submitted Ia Congress for
| examination and approval, and Congress
shall have approved the same, and when
said state hy vote ofits legislature elected
under said constitution shall have adopted
the amendment to the constitution of the
United states proposed by the 3Mh Con-
grr>~ and known rs article II, and when
said article shall! have become part ofthc
constitution, said State shall bc declared
entitled b. representation in Congress, and
Senator, AMI Representatives shall be adj
miticd ihrrcfrom." Ii these States do not
conforms n the above requirements, they
shall hc continued under military rule,
and he deprived of the right of repre-
Scntatinn in the lcgislatuSc-"a right ines
timahlc L. them and formidable to tyrantS
only" One of the tyrannical features of
this hill i somewhat whimsical. 4 State
shall not he admitted to representation al
though il votes itself for the adoption ofthe
, 18th amendment, but il must be adopted
!! thrcr-inurth> of all the States before the
| said States shall hc admitted 10 this right
/ The Slavc-Owncr, 50 much ahhorcd hv these
wonderful statesmen, would have been
considered a mailman if he had said To his
( Slave, Jack, il Won do hot do this job will
thrash You, and if my other slaves don't do
similar jobs will keep on thraShing you
until they finish them" II this amend
mcnt after rejection can thus he given life,
where is The stopping place: There wcrc
! twelve amendments almost Coniemporane
nuS with the adoption Of the constitution in
l1~1: only ten were ratified. Can the two
that were rejected Il do not rccollect them
hc now brought forward again and forced
upon the States by an act Of Congress? 1t
would he very analogous u the proceeding
Of Congress in regard 10 the l4th amend
mcnt There are other outrages in the act
of Manch end, 1867. of kindred character,
but the above prcSentment Is enough In
show the unconstitutional basis upon which
I This So-cailcd amendment stands. | think
am justified in refusing. as did in nv
letter. IA Join in the celebration of the cen
icnnial oi the constitution if therefrom the